DODIK IN TALKS WITH ORBAN: Elektroprivreda RS cedes part of ownership of solar power plant to Hungarians

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - After the president of SDS Mirko Šarović recently said that Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske had sold a share of ownership in the solar power plant „Trebinje 1“ to the Hungarians, the director of Elektroprivreda confirmed this.

From the opposition, they warn that this is a suspicious deal, because no public call was announced, and that it involves the ceding of resources of Republika Srpska by Milorad Dodik. 

The director of Elektroprivreda RS, Luka Petrović, confirmed the information that this company signed a contract on January 11, 2022 with a Hungarian investor for the construction of the photovoltaic solar power plant „Trebinje 1“. It concerns the company „LUGOS Renewables“ based in Budapest.

With this contract, Elektroprivreda RS renounced more than two-thirds of the founding package in the power plant.

However, what is controversial is that the deal was concluded without a public call or public tender. Also controversial is that Elektroprivreda received a concession for this deal, worth 50 million euros, two years ago. 

Since that concession contract nowhere mentions the possibility of selling ownership of „Trebinje 1“ - why is the construction of the solar power plant now entrusted to the Hungarians?

The head of Elektroprivreda did not answer this question, but boasted that after the power plant is built, RS will buy electricity from the Hungarians under favorable conditions.

„The module refers to the fact that Elektroprivreda will purchase electricity at a favorable price and will receive 5.5 million KM upfront, without investing a single mark in the realization of this investment.“, said Luka Petrović.

The president of SDS, Mirko Šarović, who first disclosed that the solar power plant was sold to the Hungarians, calls the entire deal extremely suspicious. 

"70% without a public tender, without any public procedure, 70% goes to the Hungarians, and 30% to RS. We consider this an abuse.“, emphasized Šarović.

Analysts believe that concluding a contract with a Hungarian fund without public announcement is a continuation of non-transparent investment in ERS, such as the HPP Bistrica project, or the new block in TPP Ugljevik and Gacko.

„Why do they behave as if they are a private company, i.e., a limited liability company, and that they do not have to answer to anyone? Why do they conclude contracts for such strategic projects secretly, behind closed doors, and why do they not show anyone what those contracts are? What are our obligations and our rights?“, asks journalist and editor of the portal „Capital.ba“, Siniša Vukelić.

Due to the illegal contract, which, as he says, takes away resources of RS, MP Nebojša Vukanović will seek a reaction from the prosecutor's office. 

„I will file a criminal complaint against Luka Petrović with the District Prosecutor's Office in Trebinje and the Special Prosecutor's Office in Banja Luka, due to a harmful contract and illegal privatization of a part of RS. On the other hand, this will also be discussed at the regular session starting in seven days. This is one in a series of acts of high treason and shows that public goods and resources of RS are being traded so that Milorad Dodik can get concessions and support, in this case from Orban.“, states Nebojša Vukanović.

It is no secret that Viktor Orban and Milorad Dodik have good relations. So good that in November last year, without official announcement, Orban visited him in Laktaši, near Banja Luka. On that occasion, he promised RS aid of 100 million euros. 

In the meantime, the leadership of Elektroprivreda also visited Hungary several times.

The question arises - Is the ceding of the construction of the solar power plant part of a secret Dodik-Orban agreement?

„It is obvious that the political rapprochement, a kind of thawing of relations between Mr. Dodik and Mr. Orban, has also led to this economic cooperation. They also have to say whether this price includes a political price that we are also paying, and whether we are giving resources to political friends on the international scene.“, believes Siniša Vukelić.

The construction of the photovoltaic solar power plant „Trebinje 1“ with a capacity of 73 MW should begin in the spring of this year.